Formation
Violin and piano · 2 performers
Required forces
Violin
1 performers
Piano
1 performers
Playable parts
Violin
Piano
MusicCoach difficulty
77/100
Advanced
Level of the complete work
We have no level specific to this movement. The figure above is that of the complete work: within a cycle, movements often differ widely in demand.
Estimated skills
Theory
Harmonic analysis
1
Theory
Knowledge of forms
1
Technique
Bow legato
1
Tone
Vibrato
1
Rhythm
Polyrhythm 2 against 3
1
Style
Impressionist style
1
Style
Modern and contemporary style
1
Style
Character and style
1
Reading
Reading accidentals
1
Technique
Legato
1
Technique
Fast passages
1
Interpretation
Phrasing
1
Technique
High positions
1
Technique
General technique
1
What to play next?
Each suggestion combines difficulty gap, risk, confidence and skill overlap. The first two cards in each column are the most useful pedagogically.
Gentle step
The safest next step.
Gentle
Violin Sonata no. 3, H.303
Bohuslav Martinů
close skills
low risk
to confirm
A short step up, staying in Advanced (around grade 7 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Vibrato and Legato d'archet — what matters is a steady sustained tone: bow speed, contact point and pressure even, before any thought of speed.
Gentle
Violin Sonata no. 1 in F minor, op. 80
Sergei Prokofiev
close skills
low risk
to confirm
A short step up, staying in Advanced (around grade 7 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Rythme d'archet complexe and Vibrato — the pitfall is the pulse drifting as soon as the writing thickens: subdivide with the metronome.
Balanced step
A genuine step up, without a jolt.
Balanced
Violin Sonata no. 4
George Antheil
close skills
moderate risk
to confirm
A real step up, staying in Advanced (around grade 8 ABRSM/RCM). The skill that will carry the work: Vibrato and Legato d'archet — what matters is a steady sustained tone: bow speed, contact point and pressure even, before any thought of speed.
Balanced
Violin Sonata, op. 31, no. 1
Paul Hindemith
close skills
moderate risk
to confirm
A real step up, staying in Advanced (around grade 8 ABRSM/RCM). New compared with the previous piece: Rythme d'archet complexe and Changements de position — the pitfall is the pulse drifting as soon as the writing thickens: subdivide with the metronome.
Ambitious challenge
A useful leap with guided practice.
Challenge
Violin Sonata no. 2 in C major, BB85, Sz.76
Béla Bartók
close skills
high risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap into Great repertoire (diploma level, beyond grade 8) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. New compared with the previous piece: Staccato and Rythme d'archet complexe — practise it slowly, separating left hand from bow: bow alone on open strings, then the fingering silently.
Challenge
Violin Sonata no. 1 in C sharp minor, op. 21, BB84, Sz.75
Béla Bartók
close skills
high risk
to confirm
An ambitious leap into Great repertoire (diploma level, beyond grade 8) — only worth starting if the practice time is really there. New compared with the previous piece: Rythme d'archet complexe and Martelé — the pitfall is the pulse drifting as soon as the writing thickens: subdivide with the metronome.
Same level
Same level
Variations, for violin with piano
Carlos Chávez
close skills
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, right at the edge of Intermediate (around grade 7 ABRSM/RCM): different ground, same level. The skill that will carry the work: Connaissance des formes and Style moderne et contemporain — understand the form and the harmony before memorising, or memory collapses the moment you play for someone.
Same level
Suite for Violin and Piano, op. 6: II. Moto perpetuo
Benjamin Britten
partial transfer
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, right at the edge of Intermediate (around grade 7 ABRSM/RCM): different ground, same level. What changes is the skill in play: Style baroque and Ornements baroque — the notes are not enough: articulation and ornaments follow performance conventions best checked in an urtext edition.
Same level
Three Preludes for Violin and Piano
George Gershwin
partial transfer
low risk
to confirm
Equivalent demands, still Advanced (around grade 7 ABRSM/RCM): what changes is the ground. What changes is the skill in play: Intonation and Style moderne et contemporain — practise it slowly, separating left hand from bow: bow alone on open strings, then the fingering silently.